Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop and relay intercropping workshop Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 12 to 2 pm at the Swan Lake State Park, east shelter house, near Carroll. Farmers and landowners to are welcome to attend these free workshops and have a complimentary meal.
Cover crops provide many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression, reduced nutrient loads entering water bodies, increased organic matter in the soil, and forage for livestock. In a relay intercropping system, where three crops are grown in two years, the benefits include a marketable small grain cover crop and additional revenue for the farmer. Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to compare and contrast these two conservation practices, discuss new relay intercropping opportunities, ask questions, and share their experiences.
The workshop will be hosted by Dr Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, Dr Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Dr Jon Dahlem, Iowa State University postdoctoral research associate.
The event will be held at the East Shelter House – Swan Lake State Park, 23248 Swan Lake Road, Carroll, and is free and open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary meal and be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Alena Whitaker at 515-294-2473 or ilf@iastate.edu. Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
